By Gary R. Rasberry
grasberry@dailystandard.com The jump from high school to college has not been too drastic for Tim Homan.
The all-time leading scorer in Celina boys basketball history has made an immediate impact on the Hillsdale College men's basketball team this season. The Michigan-based Chargers are currently 13-10 overall and 8-5 in the South Division of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, which also has Findlay and Ashland as members.
The 6-5 forward averages 31.5 minutes per game, starting all 23 games so far, and is second on the team in scoring with 11.9 ppg. Homan is also second on the team with 4.3 rebounds per game and in three-pointers with 49. Homan's 46.7 percent three-pointer percentage is tops on the Chargers team.
The Chargers are currently in Erie, Pennsylvania as part of a four-game road trip. Hillsdale tried to stop a two-game losing skid last Thursday against Gannon and will face Mercyhurst on Saturday at 3 p.m. The Chargers play their last home game of the regular season on Feb. 23 against Findlay.
Local pair pacing BU Bluffton University enters its last regular season game with Manchester College 13-11 and 6-7 in the Heartland Conference. The game is important in the HC standings as Manchester is 7-6. A win would tie the teams for the fourth seed requiring a tie-breaker to settle the pairings, which would likely have the two teams meeting again in the tournament.
Two local players have been playing a key part for the Beavers this season. Sophomore guard Eric Schwieterman (St. Henry) has started 17 of the 24 games this season at point guard. Schwieterman averages 2.5 points a game but is currently third in the HC in overall assists with 3.46 and in conference-game only assists with 3.92.
Fellow sophomore David Patch (Minster) has come off the bench in all 24 games this season, averaging 10.4 minutes per game. Patch averages 4.1 points per game.
Post makes jump from jayvee to starter
St. Henry grad Bryan Post was originally slated to play on the Defiance College junior varsity team this season.
But midway through the season, the freshman not only moved up to the varsity level, he became a starter at forward.
The Yellow Jackets are 10-14 on the season and 3-10 in the HC, but are coming off a big win over nationally ranked Hanover on Feb. 12.
Post has started 11 of the 12 varsity games he has played in this season, averaging 2.2 points and 2.6 rebounds in 19.3 minutes per game.
Eyink solid contributor off bench
Bowling Green senior Cory Eyink (Marion Local) would likely be starting at other schools, but coach Dan Dakich has found that using the veteran forward off the bench helps add experience to the bench.
The 6-8 Eyink has appeared in all 22 games this season, with just two starts), avergaing 17.6 minutes per game, good for fifth on the team. Eyink averages 4.7 ppg. and 2.5 rpg. this season but has been a threat to hit the long shot, making 21 three-pointers this season. fourth-most on the team. Eyink's 43.8 three-point percentage is third best on the team.
BG is currently 15-7 and 9-5 in the Mid-American Conference West Division -- tops in the division -- after Wednesday's 70-69 win over Ball State. The Falcons will play Arkansas-Little Rock out of the Sun Belt Conference on Saturday at 1 p.m. as part of the ESPN Bracket Buster Saturday series.
Another local, sophomore (Continued from page 1B)
Matt Lefeld (Coldwater) was featured on Dakich's coach's show last week, earning scholar-athlete honors with a 4.0 grade point average.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Heitkamp hits milestone
Capital University junior Sara Heitkamp reached a career milestone and receieved several honors over the last few weeks.
Heitkamp went over the 1,000-point mark for her career and currently ranks ninth all-time on the Crusaders' scoring list with 1,081.
For the second time this season, Heitkamp was named the Ohio Athletic Conference women's basketball player of the week after scoring 44 points during the week of Feb. 6. Heitkamp shared the honor this weel with Marietta's Rebecca Tokodi.
Also this week, Heitkamp was named to the ESPN The Magazine-CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) Academic All-District first team for District IV. As a first team selection, she is moved onto the Academic All-American ballot.
Hetikamp is ranked second in the OAC in scoring (17.9 ppg.) and steas (3.39 spg.) and third in assists (4.26 apg.).
Brand dominating as a freshman
Ohio Northern freshman Erin Brand (Marion) has made an immediate impact for the Polar Bears, helping the team to a 11-13 record and a 6-11 mark in the OAC. Brand leads the Bears in scoring at 11.2 ppg., the only double-figure scorer on the team.
Known for her strong shooting touch with the Flyers, Brand is shooting 46.2 percent from the floor this season.
Everman strong for Eagles
Another former Flyer, Ashland senior Beth Everman has guided the Eagles to a 17-7 season so far and 9-5 in the GLIAC South.
Everman is second on the team in scoring at 12.5 ppg. and in rebounding at 7.7 boards per game. Everman has connected on 54.9 percent of her shots this season and has added 2.5 assists per game. |
